April 20, 2009 // Franchising.com // Wyomissing Hills, Pa - To help meet the growing demand of older Philadelphians who want to remain in their own homes and stay as self-sufficient as possible, Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Services (SHS) has established a new franchise that will serve several communities in Northwest Philadelphia-including the communities of: Wynnefield, East Falls, Manayunk, West Allegheny, Roxborough, Wissahicken Park, Chestnut Hill, West Mount Airy, Germantown, East Germantown, Mount Airy, Cedarbrook, West Oak Lane, Ogontz, Tioga, Logan.

The Seniors Helping Seniors organization--which has six regional owners and some 50 franchise partners in Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Michigan, Florida, Washington, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Missouri and Texas--is a national caregiver and companionship organization and the only one that matches seniors who need in-home care services with seniors who provide them.

The new Northwest Philadelphia franchise is owned and operated by Alicejane Newcomer, Roxborough, Pa. A native of Philadelphia, she has more than 30 years of experience within the medical and healthcare communities. She received a BS from the Community College of Philadelphia.

Most recently, she was the director of client education and practice management for C&S Research, Medical Practice Management Systems, King of Prussia, Pa., which she joined in 1989. Prior to that she was an insurance and billing manager for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Clinical Care Associates' Cardiology Department. From 1983 to 1987, she worked for a non-profit Community Care Retirement facility in Upper Roxborough, that is part of AAHSA, Washington, D.C.

Newcomer received Exemplary Service, Un-Wavering Commitment and other awards from C&S Research and completed numerous continuing education courses.

"I believe strongly in the Seniors Helping Seniors mission. At Cathedral Village, an independent living and nursing home environment, I learned many things from the residents--each person there was a unique someone, much more than the title of resident that we placed on them. And, that beyond being an individual unique someone, that generation is the living history of my generation--remarkable people who had a lifetime of stories to tell and experiences to share.

"And, it was nice to learn first hand, and early on in my career, how to respect, acknowledge and honor those we have come from. That whole concept has gotten lost on the, 'me first 'and the 'now' generations," she said.

Being able to start a Seniors Helping Seniors franchise in this community to help make a difference in the lives of my neighbors and friends is very satisfying and timely," she stressed. "Our neighborhoods have seen many changes over the years, but this area, as well as the many other neighborhoods in the Northwestern area of Philadelphia still is home to many of the families that were here 60 years ago."

Like so many others, said Newcomer, she has first hand experience with providing care and assistance to her elderly parents. "I was fortunate to have six sisters in the area to share this with. The only service we used was Meals on Wheels service for lunch. What we learned using this service was that when the meal was delivered by another senior, who would take the time to visit, my parents seemed to light up in a way that wasn't part of the now norm, by her presence. It was transforming--everything about them returned to the parent personalities I remembered from better days.

Sharon Santoni, master license holder for the Seniors Helping Seniors franchises in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, said Alicejane Newcomer will make a big difference in the organization. "She comes to our Seniors Helping Seniors community with many years of healthcare experience and an extensive and deeply personal knowledge about what it means to be a caregiver. She will make an excellent addition to our franchise family, people who are dedicated to providing the Seniors Helping Seniors brand of loving, giving, caring and compassionate service and who will fulfill our mission in further expanding our care giving and companionship services in the Delaware Valley"

Newcomer said watching and spending time with seniors and learning about their life experiences has "built a substance of understanding for me about how important it is to have people in your life that are your peers.

"People who have had similar lives and know, as you do, and who can give and take from a place reserved to that generation. Seniors Helping Seniors franchises are unique in seeing this too. It is a business that can serve both the receiver and the provider by creating new relationships to replace ones that are gone."

Philip Yocom, and his wife, Kiran Yocom, co-founded Seniors Helping Seniors In-Home Services (SHS), which began as a non-profit organization serving Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 2007, the non-profit Seniors Helping Seniors center provided nearly 17,000 hours of service and continues that tradition today.

Philip Yocom said, "What began as a heartfelt mission to fill a need that was not being served by our local community is now being recognized as a prime business opportunity being fueled by the fastest growing demographic in our society."

He said, "We want the existing Seniors Helping Seniors organization and our franchises to be the first place that seniors in need of non-medical services and those seeking extra income, call."

"We support all of our franchises with all of the expertise we have gained in running Seniors Helping Seniors Berks County office. We also provide marketing, sales, management, and technology support."

He added, "We believe we have found a practical, cost-effective way to help seniors remain independent and continue contributing. As we grow nationwide, we remain committed to providing our brand of loving, giving, caring, and compassionate service."

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